Battle Of Bunker Hill Essay

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The Battle of Bunker Hill took place when, days before, the Colonial spies heard word that the British were planning to send troops to the hills surrounding the city of Boston. The night of June 16, 1775, some 1,000 colonial militiamen being led by Colonel William Prescott, under orders from Maj. Gen. Artemas Ward, built fortifications overlooking Boston located on the peninsula of Charlestown. The men were originally supposed to set up fortifications on the bigger Bunker Hill instead they set up on the smaller Breeds hill which put them closer to Boston and closer to the British. The next morning, the British were stunned to see the Americans on that hill threatening to attack. General Howe himself said “My God, these fellows have done more…show more content…
Prescott’s men were getting low on ammunition, and when the Redcoats charged for a third attack, they reached the redoubts and engaged the Americans in hand-to-hand combat using the bayonets on the ends of their muskets. Outnumbered, the Americans were forced to retreat. By the end of the engagement, the patriots’ gunfire had cut down some 1,000 enemy troops, with more than 200 killed and more than 800 wounded. The Americans also suffered great losses with 100 dead and more than 300 wounded. Those that were wounded would most likely die days, or even hours later from lead poisoning and loss of…show more content…
On September 19, 1775, the Continental Congress decided to setup a secret committee to contract importations of gunpowder that would not exceed 500 tons. The meetings to get more gunpowder went well with the French, they negotiated that they would supply the colonies only what they needed and nothing more. This valuable connection to France would play a big role in the Liberty and Independence of the colonies. The Committee could not get the gunpowder before Bunker Hill, the much needed supplies started to come in before the capture of fort
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